Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues – Holland K Smith vs. Hamilton Loomis vs. Little Mike & The Tornadoes

Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues – Holland K Smith vs. Hamilton Loomis vs. Little Mike & The Tornadoes
HOLLAND K SMITH
Cobalt
Ellersoul

But is it the blues? Well, not really. It’s more of a seventies fuelled Elvin Bishop vibed soul funk blues stew, which is just downright delicious.

This album features fourteen new tunes, all written by Mr Smith, bar a solitary Lefty Williams song. Splendidly produced by Mr Anson Funderburg, it’s a rollicking good record, full of great songs and performancesfrom Wes Starr on drums, Ronnie Wber and Eric Przygocki on bass duties and sax parts by Ron Jones.

When he does get the blues it’s SRV Texas style, but just as often he dips back into early Steve Miller style. He gets quite poppy in places, and if there was any justice in the world, a song like ‘Off The Chain’ would be a big radio hit. ‘I Don’t Buy That’ is another built for radio track, while my favourite is (obviously) ‘Never Got The Blues’, which is, um, the blues.

A thoroughly enjoyable release which is well deserving of a place in your collection.

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HAMILTON LOOMIS
Give It Back
Ham-Bone Records

And here’s another man who likes to confuse people with an array of styles and vibes. Mr Loomis has been steadily moving away from his blues roots, and like the recent release by Jonny Lang, he’s off into the mainstream on a funk and soul tip.

The days when you could see the links to Albert Collins and Bo Diddley are long gone, and when he hits the big ballad, ‘A Woman Like You’, you could think you were listening to an Adult Contemporary release. Thankfully, the rest of the record is more hard hitting, and even if he’s off into a Stevie Wonder / Prince thang, there’s usually enough grit left over to make it enjoyale. ‘Stuck In A Rut’ is probably the best of those, with ‘She’s Had Enough’ a close runner up.

There are a few tunes that could make inroads to the radio, with the likes of ‘Castle’ very user friendly. It’s a good album, even if it is a long way from the fiery youth that first grabbed the attention. It’s more Mayer Hawthorne than it is Muddy Waters, so bear that in mind.

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LITTLE MIKE & The Tornadoes
Forgive Me
Elrob Records

Someone has hasn’t left the blues behind is Little Mike Markowitz, and if you’re looking for some new Chicago blues (via New York and Florida), then this is the place to be.

There is some fantastic guitar work from Troy Nahumko, and when they stretch out on ‘My Little Therese’, you’d be hard pushed to find a more dynamic blues band. Little Mike first went into the studio to back Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin, and he has certainly learnt his lessons well.

Sonny Landreth pops up here and there, with ‘Tell Me Baby’, an absolute cracker. Elsewhere, they get their funk on with ‘The Hit’, go all soulful on ‘Nothin’ I Wouldn’t Do’ and rock it up on ‘Fool Too Long’. It’s an absolute pleasure from start to finish for anyone who’s done got the blues.

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Don’t forget to tune into Mr H every Thursday at 8pm, Her Majestys Great British time, when you will find him Rockin’ The Blues on that there internet radio.